HC Deb 19 June 1912 vol 39 cc1656-7
19. Mr. HEWINS

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he can state what are the special requirements of Welsh as distinguished from English and Scottish agriculture which require the appointment of a special Welsh Agricultural Commission?

The PRESIDENT of the BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. Runciman)

I would point out to the hon. Member that the interests of Scottish agriculture are now entrusted to a separate Board of Agriculture for Scotland. The circumstances which appear to me to necessitate the provision of some special administrative machinery for Wales are in part topographical, in part linguistic, and in part inherent in the national temperament and tradition. It would be impossible, within the limits of the answer to a Parliamentary question, to discuss these circumstances in detail, but in other matters they have been commonly recognised for many years on both sides of the House.

Mr. C. BATHURST

Is Monmouthshire included in Wales for the purposes of this Commission?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

Yes, it is included for practically all administrative purposes.